Why are we not building more reservoirs
Discussion
Why are we not building any reservoirs in this country? The population is increasing, water usage is increasing and rainfall has become more erratic (allegedly). I can’t find and info on when the last major reservoir was constructed but I’m guessing it was some time ago.
I know we have issues with the engineering behind it and the fact that the environment is a big concern to people these days but surely we have the tech to be able to build these structures and be able to allow ways for fish to migrate and breed etc.
I know such a construction project wouldn’t be cheap but then again running low on water must also be costing the economy a fortune with restricted water usage. We need more reservoirs and we need then now!
Currently the river by me has burst its banks the fields are flooded and everywhere is waterlogged! Drought my arse!
I know we have issues with the engineering behind it and the fact that the environment is a big concern to people these days but surely we have the tech to be able to build these structures and be able to allow ways for fish to migrate and breed etc.
I know such a construction project wouldn’t be cheap but then again running low on water must also be costing the economy a fortune with restricted water usage. We need more reservoirs and we need then now!
Currently the river by me has burst its banks the fields are flooded and everywhere is waterlogged! Drought my arse!
EURef has just posted an interesting article on this:
I think the answer is, "because politicians can't plan past the end of their noses"
EURef said:
One of those planned was the Abingdon reservoir, and the fate of that has already been recorded. Another had been announced in September 2003 – the Clay Hill reservoir near Canterbury in Kent, to be built at a cost of £100m. And it was to be joined by a huge reservoir at Broad Oak, near Folkestone. Both, however, have been deferred, one to 2020 and the other to 2023.
Yet another was Havant Thicket, a £36m project between Havant and Rowlands Castle, near Portsmouth. But, in November 2011, it was announced that this was to be deferred for 25 years, after the government told Portsmouth Water to go back to the drawing board in devising its Water Resources Management Plan...
...Thus, none of the five reservoirs deemed essential in 2004 – all in the south of England – have seen the light of day.
http://www.eureferendum.com/blogview.aspx?blogno=8...Yet another was Havant Thicket, a £36m project between Havant and Rowlands Castle, near Portsmouth. But, in November 2011, it was announced that this was to be deferred for 25 years, after the government told Portsmouth Water to go back to the drawing board in devising its Water Resources Management Plan...
...Thus, none of the five reservoirs deemed essential in 2004 – all in the south of England – have seen the light of day.
I think the answer is, "because politicians can't plan past the end of their noses"
I am sure the answer must be usage.
Installation of locally collected grey water systems for toilets and washing machines must be technically possible.
What would it really take?
Certainly should be a legal requirement in new builds.
Additionally we hear a lot about water companies taking from ground water, why don 't they have the ability to top up reserved from river water ? Either into the reservoir system, or via bore holes into ground water system for lat use.
Installation of locally collected grey water systems for toilets and washing machines must be technically possible.
What would it really take?
Certainly should be a legal requirement in new builds.
Additionally we hear a lot about water companies taking from ground water, why don 't they have the ability to top up reserved from river water ? Either into the reservoir system, or via bore holes into ground water system for lat use.
doogz said:
We don't really have the same issues you seem to be having down south, but i stay a couple of hundred metres away from a disused reservoir.
The waterworks are all still there, the last set, which are maintained on a semi-regular basis, so that they could be brought back into work at relatively short notice if required, and the previous works, which are old rusty bits of machinery in holes in the ground, with creepy underground passages and pits and whatnot. Good for a climb about and a bit of exploring.
So, dunno when they last built any, but we seem to have spare capacity, should we require it.
At least we know where to start the search if you inexplicably stop posting.The waterworks are all still there, the last set, which are maintained on a semi-regular basis, so that they could be brought back into work at relatively short notice if required, and the previous works, which are old rusty bits of machinery in holes in the ground, with creepy underground passages and pits and whatnot. Good for a climb about and a bit of exploring.
So, dunno when they last built any, but we seem to have spare capacity, should we require it.
mrmr96 said:
MonkeyMatt said:
Dusty964 said:
Desalination plants are the answer surely. The uk is surrounded by a fairly reliable source of water.
I thoughthey were hugely expensive!Desal water also tastes like crap - I prefer 'water' as opposed to 'dihydrogen monoxide'.
Build Nuclear, build them fast, then you can have all the desal you want.
Just building reservoirs doesn't solve the problem. The reservoirs need something to feed them.
As it is in the South near to 80% of water is taken from groundwater not surface water run off.
Known as aquifers it is quite a sensible place to source from as the geology cleans up the supply saving in treatment costs.
If you take from the rivers then you take away from the source that replenishes these aquifiers so all you have achieved is to store the same water but just spent a load of money to have it visible and evaporating.
Development also affects the natural replenishment of aquifers as the hard surfacing causes the runoff to go to straight to river rather than percolating through, hence the need for sustainable urban drainage systems such as porous paving that allows it continue as if it were still a field and more directly soakaway drainage that doesn't just throw your roof water straight into a network of pipes and out to sea.
So whilst it doesn't seem right, what we actually need to do is stop the water getting to the rivers in the first place.
Desalination is stupidly expensive compared to our normal sources so it needs to be a last option as we already have a cheap system quite capable of dealing with our demands, we just need to manage it a bit better, and that onus sits with the Environment Agency not the water authorities.
As it is in the South near to 80% of water is taken from groundwater not surface water run off.
Known as aquifers it is quite a sensible place to source from as the geology cleans up the supply saving in treatment costs.
If you take from the rivers then you take away from the source that replenishes these aquifiers so all you have achieved is to store the same water but just spent a load of money to have it visible and evaporating.
Development also affects the natural replenishment of aquifers as the hard surfacing causes the runoff to go to straight to river rather than percolating through, hence the need for sustainable urban drainage systems such as porous paving that allows it continue as if it were still a field and more directly soakaway drainage that doesn't just throw your roof water straight into a network of pipes and out to sea.
So whilst it doesn't seem right, what we actually need to do is stop the water getting to the rivers in the first place.
Desalination is stupidly expensive compared to our normal sources so it needs to be a last option as we already have a cheap system quite capable of dealing with our demands, we just need to manage it a bit better, and that onus sits with the Environment Agency not the water authorities.
There are enough reservoirs and water supplies to service way more people than there are in this country at the moment but because they all want to live in the same corner, they're going to go thirsty. What govts need to do is to even-out the population a bit. Reduce the concentration in the South East and suddenly house prices are more reasonable, roads aren't clogged-up, water supplies become adequate, schools aren't over-subscribed, hospitals aren't overcrowded, etc etc etc.
Look at a map of the whole of the UK and draw in blue where all the motorways are. There are some obvious "black holes" where no decent road infrastructure exists. Build motorways to make all corners of the UK relatively accessible and businesses will move there, followed by people. Then it all becomes that much easier to manage.
Look at a map of the whole of the UK and draw in blue where all the motorways are. There are some obvious "black holes" where no decent road infrastructure exists. Build motorways to make all corners of the UK relatively accessible and businesses will move there, followed by people. Then it all becomes that much easier to manage.
lazystudent said:
There is only drought in the South East. Land in the South East is f
king expensive. Can you imagine how much it would cost to buy up however much land in the South East and dig a great big hole in it?
Maybe if Thames water decided not to sell off 5 reservoirs over the last few years we may not be in such a situation we are in now. It's not as if the population of London and surrounding areas is going to increase over the coming years.king expensive. Can you imagine how much it would cost to buy up however much land in the South East and dig a great big hole in it? 
p4pedro said:
Far too many houses in the south have tarmaced or paved their gardens , so any rain that falls on this goes down the drains instead of soaking into the ground ,eventually ending up in underground lakes where most water is obtained by water companies
This is a problem in parts of London perhaps, but pretty inconsequential in the whole of the SE. Besides, drains don't just 'magic away' the water. It has to go somewhere, which is just into a river via a concrete pipe not via the ground. As most of the water companies are now owned by overseas companies they are not going to rush to invest more of their profits here are they. I could not say screw you South East Water I'm off to another supplier.Ofwat are about as much use as a chocolate teapot in looking after the customers interests.
Our bills will justget dearer and dearer.
Our bills will justget dearer and dearer.
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